ID :
17618
Sun, 08/31/2008 - 15:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/17618
The shortlink copeid
Thai PM reiterates: won't dissolve House, nor resign; Parliament will meet
BANGKOK, Aug 31 (TNA) - Reiterating that he would neither resign nor
dissolve the House, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Sunday he is
duty-bound to inform members of Parliament of the ongoing political chaos in Thailand when they meet Sunday afternoon.
Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr. Samak, also defence
minister, said all the 480 elected members of the House of Representatives
and 150 senators, of which 76 were elected, will attend an urgent debate
which is scheduled to start from 1.30 pm.
"No vote will be cast," said Mr. Samak, adding that the debate, however,
will give an opportunity for senators and elected members of the
opposition Democrat Party to express what they think of the political
turmoil as the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
continues to occupy the prime minister's offices at Government House for
the sixth consecutive day Sunday.
Leaders of the six-party coalition government, formed in early February,
pledging at a late Saturday meeting, that the government would not budge
to protesters' demand calling for the ouster of the government and that
they would remain united with Mr. Samak as leader.
As the government and the courts have failed to resolve the political
turbulence, Parliament will try to end the crisis, Mr. Samak said.
"Fear is causing damage to the country," Mr. Samak said repeatedly,
referring to the PAD demonstrators who have staged rallies against his
administration since May 25.
He blasted the six PAD leaders who have mobilised large numbers of people
to join the protest, saying that he as defence minister could use tools
and equipment to suppress the demonstrators but he did not want to as it
could further damage the country.
"They (the protesters) have no right to do this," said Mr. Samak angrily.
"What's the final aim of the instigators?" The protesters want the
opposition Democrat Party to form a government and if their plan fails,
they would come out again, said Mr. Samak.
"What if the Democrat Party leader would feel if he were me," he asked.
The urgent debate is organised as protesters are now also closing two key
airports in the southern resort provinces of Phuket, known as the pearl of
the Andaman Sea, and Krabi, causing thousands of passengers, many of them
foreign tourists, to remain stranded.
Most of rail services across the country have also stopped, while labour
union members of state-owned Thai Airways International (THAI) have also
threatened to stop work. (TNA)
dissolve the House, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Sunday he is
duty-bound to inform members of Parliament of the ongoing political chaos in Thailand when they meet Sunday afternoon.
Speaking during his weekly TV and radio address, Mr. Samak, also defence
minister, said all the 480 elected members of the House of Representatives
and 150 senators, of which 76 were elected, will attend an urgent debate
which is scheduled to start from 1.30 pm.
"No vote will be cast," said Mr. Samak, adding that the debate, however,
will give an opportunity for senators and elected members of the
opposition Democrat Party to express what they think of the political
turmoil as the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
continues to occupy the prime minister's offices at Government House for
the sixth consecutive day Sunday.
Leaders of the six-party coalition government, formed in early February,
pledging at a late Saturday meeting, that the government would not budge
to protesters' demand calling for the ouster of the government and that
they would remain united with Mr. Samak as leader.
As the government and the courts have failed to resolve the political
turbulence, Parliament will try to end the crisis, Mr. Samak said.
"Fear is causing damage to the country," Mr. Samak said repeatedly,
referring to the PAD demonstrators who have staged rallies against his
administration since May 25.
He blasted the six PAD leaders who have mobilised large numbers of people
to join the protest, saying that he as defence minister could use tools
and equipment to suppress the demonstrators but he did not want to as it
could further damage the country.
"They (the protesters) have no right to do this," said Mr. Samak angrily.
"What's the final aim of the instigators?" The protesters want the
opposition Democrat Party to form a government and if their plan fails,
they would come out again, said Mr. Samak.
"What if the Democrat Party leader would feel if he were me," he asked.
The urgent debate is organised as protesters are now also closing two key
airports in the southern resort provinces of Phuket, known as the pearl of
the Andaman Sea, and Krabi, causing thousands of passengers, many of them
foreign tourists, to remain stranded.
Most of rail services across the country have also stopped, while labour
union members of state-owned Thai Airways International (THAI) have also
threatened to stop work. (TNA)
